Sports
Golf Glance: Rory McIlroy returns ahead of major; LIV Golf in Virginia
Rory McIlroy tees off during the third round of the 2026 Masters. Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images The PGA Tour sees Rory McIlroy return to action for a signature event ahead of next week’s PGA Championship, while LIV Golf is in Virginia and the LPGA Tour makes its annual stop in New Jersey.
PGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Truist Championship, Charlotte, May 7-10
Course: Quail Hollow Club (Par 71, 7,583 Yards)
Purse: $20M (Winner: $3.6M)
Defending Champion: Sepp Straka
FedEx Cup Leader: Matt Fitzpatrick
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS); Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @TruistChamp
NOTES: This is the sixth of eight signature events this season, featuring a $20 million purse and elevated FedExCup points. … The event returns to Quail Hollow after being held at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in 2025. … World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is not playing this week, but the field is highlighted by seven of the top-10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking and 46 of the top 50 in the FedExCup standings. … Lucas Glover is making his 22nd career start in the event, seven more than any other player in the field. … Rickie Fowler enters with three consecutive top-10 finishes in signature events. … Sponsors exemptions include Tony Finau, Max Homa, Mackenzie Hughes and Webb Simpson. … The winner will receive a spot in next week’s PGA Championship if not otherwise exempt. … Five players are in the field via the Aon Swing 5: Ricky Castillo, David Lipsky, Matt Wallace, Chandler Blanchet and Kristoffer Reitan. … Wyndham Clark owns the tournament scoring record at Quail Hollow with the 265 he posted in winning in 2023.
BEST BETS: Rory McIlroy (+580 at DraftKings) returns from his post-Masters break to one of his favorite course. The four-time winner of the Truist Championship owns the 18-hole scoring record of 61 at Quail Hollow set in the third round in 2015. … Cameron Young (+920) is coming off his second win of the year to rise to No. 3 in the world rankings. … Xander Schauffele (+1175) has five top-25 finishes in six previous event starts, topped by a second place in 2024 after holding the lead after each of the first three rounds. … Matt Fitzpatrick (+1700) has won his past two starts on tour and also finished runner-up at The Players this year. … Sepp Straka (+4400) seeks to become the first player to successfully defend at the Truist. He enters with three top-10s so far this year.
THIS WEEK: Myrtle Beach Classic, Myrtle Beach, S.C., May 7-10
Course: Dunes Golf and Beach Club (Par 71, 7,347 Yards)
Purse: $4M (Winner: $720,000)
Defending Champion: Ryan Fox
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 10 a.m.-Noon ET; Saturday-Sunday: 3-5 p.m. (Golf Channel)
X: @MyrtleBeachCl
NOTES: The opposite-field event offers 300 FedEx Cup points to the winner, a two-year PGA Tour exemption and a spot in next week’s PGA Championship if not otherwise qualified. … The field includes five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, 18-year-old Blades Brown and notable tour veterans including Billy Horschel, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker. The highest-ranked player in the field is No. 39 Marco Penge, followed by No. 42 Aaron Rai.
Last Tournament: Cadillac Championship (Cameron Young)
Next Tournament: PGA Championship, Philadelphia, May 14-17
LIV GOLF LEAGUE
THIS WEEK: LIV Golf Virginia, May 7-10
Course: Trump National DC (Par 72, 7,679 Yards)
Purses: Individual: $30M (Winner: $4M); Team: $10M (Winners: $3M)
Defending Champions: Individual: Joaquin Niemann; Team: Crushers GC
2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Ripper GC
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday: 1-6 p.m. ET (Fox One); Friday: Noon-2 p.m. (Fox); Saturday: 1-6 p.m. (FBN); Sunday: Noon-5 p.m. (Fox)
X: @livgolf_league
NOTES: This is the seventh of 13 events this season, with the scheduled New Orleans event in June postponed. It’s the league’s third event in Virginia and its second at Trump National DC, with Harold Varner winning in 2023. … The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf individual standings will earn an entry into next month’s U.S. Open. Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau lead the standings and are already exempt, with 11 players still holding a mathematical chance of claiming the third spot. … The daily shotgun start includes 13 teams and 57 total players, including five wild cards. … Phil Mickelson continues to be sidelined by an undisclosed personal medical matter. He will be replaced on the HyFlyers GC by Scott Vincent.
Last Event: LIV Golf Mexico City (Individual: Rahm; Team: Legion XIII)
Next Event: LIV Golf Korea, May 28-31
LPGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Mizuho Americas Open, West Caldwell, N.J., May 7-10
Course: Mountain Ridge Country Club (Par 72, 6,735 Yards)
Purse: $3.25M (Winner: $487,500)
Defending Champion: Jeeno Thitikul
Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW:
TV: Thursday-Friday: 10-12 p.m. ET; Saturday: 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Streaming: Thursday-Friday: Noon-2 p.m. ET; Saturday: 5-7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GolfChannel.com)
X: @LPGA
NOTES: This is the first time since the event began in 2023 that it is not being held at Liberty National Golf Club. … Tournament host Michelle Wie West is in the field competing in an LPGA event for the first time since the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. She will also compete in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. … Thitikul went bogey-free over the final 27 holes in winning by four shots last year. … The event includes 24 AJGA junior players competing in a Stableford competition.
Last Tournament: Mexico Riviera Maya Open (Korda)
Next Tournament: Queen City Championship, Cincinnati, May 14-17
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
THIS WEEK: Insperity Invitational, The Woodlands, Texas, May 8-10
Course: The Woodlands CC (Par 72, 7,002 Yards)
Purse: $3M (Winner: $450,000)
Defending Champion: Stewart Cink
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Cink
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday: 7-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel – Tape Delay); Saturday: 8:30-10:30 p.m. (GC – Tape Delay); Sunday: 5-7 p.m. (GC)
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: Bernhard Langer holds the tournament scoring record of 25-under 191 set in 2007. … Cink has won four of the first eight events this season and leads the standings by more than twice as much money earned than No. 2 Zach Johnson. … Langer is one of seven World Golf Hall of Fame members in the 78-player field.
Last Tournament: Regions Traditions (Cink)
Next Tournament: Trophy Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco, May 8-10
DP WORLD TOUR
THIS WEEK: Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, Barcelona, May 7-10
Course: Real Club de Golf El Prat (Par 72, 7,057 Yards)
Purse: $2.75M (Winner: $458,333)
Defending Champion: Eugenio Chacarra
Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 7:30-10 a.m. ET; Saturday: 7:30 a.m.-Noon (Golf Channel); Sunday: 7 a.m.-Noon (Golf Channel).
X: @DPWorldTour
NOTES: This begins the six-event European Swing, the fourth of five Global Swings on the 2026 Race to Dubai. The player with the most points at the end of each Swing earns a $200,000 bonus and entry into every event in Phase Two of the season called the “Back 9”. … Spain was the site of the tour’s first event in 1972, when it was known as the European Tour.
Last Tournament: Turkish Airlines Open (Mikael Lindberg)
Next Tournament: Soudal Open, Antwerp, Belgium, May 21-24
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knicks riding streak of big wins entering Game 2 vs. 76ers
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the first quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images It does not take much for championship-starved Big Apple basketball fans to daydream about what an NBA title run by the New York Knicks might look like.
The Knicks have given their fans even more reason to dream over the last 11 days.
The third-seeded Knicks will look to continue their dominant run and take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals Wednesday night, when they host the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.
Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his game-high 35 points in the first half Monday, when the Knicks rolled to a 137-98 victory.
The win was the fourth straight for the Knicks, who closed out the Atlanta Hawks with three consecutive lopsided victories in their six-game first-round series.
New York, which fell behind Atlanta with consecutive one-point losses in Games 2 and 3, beat the Hawks 114-98 in Game 4 on April 25 before routing them 126-97 in Game 5 on April 28 and 140-89 last Thursday night.
“You hope that at this time, you’re the best version of yourselves,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said.
The best version of the Knicks has been historic. New York is the first NBA team to win three straight playoff games by at least 25 points apiece.
The Knicks are also the second team to end one series and begin another with consecutive victories by at least 30 points. The 1986 Boston Celtics beat the Hawks 132-99 to end an Eastern Conference semifinal series before routing the Milwaukee Bucks 128-96 in the Game 1 of the conference finals.
The Celtics went on to win the NBA title. These Knicks are 11 wins away from that destination — and unlike their fans, not quite ready to entertain such notions under Brunson, their famously tunnel-visioned captain.
“Honestly, you’ve got to take this game with a grain of salt and just kind of move forward,” Brunson said. “I don’t think we’re going to see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They’re going to be ready to go.”
The loss wiped away any momentum the 76ers had after they advanced to the conference semifinals by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Celtics in the first round — the first such comeback in franchise history.
But the 76ers’ success against the Celtics serves as a reminder a series doesn’t have to be defined by one — or two — blowouts. Philadelphia’s Game 1 and Game 4 losses to Boston were each by 32 points.
The 76ers are hopeful they’ll benefit from a more routine prep for Game 2. The series opener Monday night tipped off fewer than 48 hours after Philadelphia’s 109-100 Game 7 win over the Celtics.
“Emotional rollercoaster — you go from a Game 7 and one day off and you are right back into another matchup,” 76ers forward Paul George said. “I think there was some carryover trying to get up and get prepared for this next matchup. But we should have done a better job.”
The 76ers had no shortage of areas that needed work during Tuesday’s off day. Philadelphia scored fewer than 100 points for just the seventh time in the last 37 games dating back to Feb. 19 while allowing the Knicks to shoot 63.1% from the field, a New York franchise record for a playoff game.
“Yeah, we had breakdowns tonight, but they also shot the (heck) out of the ball,” George said. “It’s a game of adjustments. We’ll make adjustments, see what we need to get better at.
“But again, same as last series. They don’t get any points (in Game 2) for going up big tonight.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves activate closer Raisel Iglesias from injured list
Apr 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves activated right-hander Raisel Iglesias from the injured list Tuesday and designated right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment.
Iglesias, 36, last pitched on April 19 and has been out with right shoulder inflammation.
In eight relief outings this season, Iglesias has five saves and has not allowed a run over 8 2/3 innings. In 12 career seasons, he is 42-55 with a 2.86 ERA and 258 saves over 608 appearances (21 starts) for the Cincinnati Reds (2015-20), Los Angeles Angels (2021-22) and Braves.
Carrasco, 39, was designated for assignment for the second time by the Braves this season and the third time since August. In two outings (2 1/3 innings) this season he has not allowed a run.
A veteran of 17 major league seasons, Carrasco is 112-105 with a 4.22 ERA in 337 appearances (286 starts) for the Cleveland Indians/Guardians (2009-20, 2024), New York Mets (2021-23), New York Yankees (2025) and Braves.
The Braves also sent left-hander Dylan Dodd (back) on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett, while shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (finger) had his rehab assignment transferred from Double-A Columbus to Triple-A Gwinnett.
–Field Level Media
Sports
After an 0-5 start, Marlins DFA right-hander Chris Paddack
Apr 10, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Chris Paddack (33) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images After another rocky start Sunday, the Marlins designated veteran right-hander Chris Paddack for assignment on Tuesday and recalled right-hander William Kempner from Triple-A Jacksonville.
Paddack, 30, gave up seven runs on six hits with three walks over 2 2/3 innings on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The outing came after a promising start against the Los Angeles Dodgers last week when he allowed two runs over four innings.
In seven starts this season, his first with Miami, Paddack was 0-5 with a 7.63 ERA and was tied for the major league lead with 26 earned runs allowed, entering Tuesday’s play.
Over eight major league seasons, Paddack is 32-41 with a 4.79 ERA in 125 appearances (116 starts) for the San Diego Padres (2019-21), Minnesota Twins (2022-25), Detroit Tigers (2025) and Marlins.
Kempner, who is poised to make his major league debut, was 0-3 with a 6.46 ERA in 12 relief appearances at Jacksonville. He has three saves and 34 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.
The 24-year-old was a third-round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2022.
–Field Level Media
ElevenLabs lists BlackRock, Jamie Foxx, and Eva Longoria as new investors
Knicks riding streak of big wins entering Game 2 vs. 76ers
